White spots on ash

[llatsni]

Hi, newbie here, so, possibly excuse my ignorance!

Strange question maybe... I've been working my way through some Hoyo #2's over the holidays and I've noticed tiny white spots on the ash. I don't recall seeing this on cigars I've smoked before. Cigars taste fine (if a little light), draw fine, burn fine... so its really just a nerdy curiosity.

Any thoughts?

Paul

[Cigar Man Andy]

If you can get a picture it would help. It could be several things as simple as humidity or leave texture. It is hard to answer with a phot but even harder without.

[smokeyandthebandit05]

Ive always heard its from high levels of magnesium in the soil from the fertilizers or just naturally and the plants store it in their leaves

[ucla695]

Originally Posted by smokeyandthebandit05

Ive always heard its from high levels of magnesium in the soil from the fertilizers or just naturally and the plants store it in their leaves

This is very common on Fuente cammy's like the DCs.

[raralith]

You mean small white spheres? I've read too that it's due to magnusium, but I've heard for the thing for a few other things so I'm rather dubious of it.

[JCK]

Here is a good explanation with photo. It's worth looking through Andrew (Moki's) site. There is a lot of good information there.

http://www.vitolas.net/displayimage.php?pos=-867

[llatsni]

Originally Posted by khubli

Here is a good explanation with photo. It's worth looking through Andrew (Moki's) site. There is a lot of good information there.

http://www.vitolas.net/displayimage.php?pos=-867

That is EXACTLY what I was talking about! Wow.
Although my wrappers are perfect and smooth and the white balls are not as pronounced as the 1st picture, but I'm in no doubt it is the magnesium/potash phenomenon.

Nerdy curiosity satisfied. lol.

Paul

[taltos]

I agree with my long time brother Ji, it is probably magnesium.

[SIFDUE]

Originally Posted by raralith

You mean small white spheres? I've read too that it's due to magnusium, but I've heard for the thing for a few other things so I'm rather dubious of it.

[e-man]

I don't know if we're are talking about the same thing, but the other day I was correcting the burn on a Ashton Maduro. When I applied the jet flame, the ash looked like it melted and formed little balls. I thought that was a bit strange, as I have corrected many a cigar and never seen this phenomenon before.

[JCK]

hey e-man, check out the link above. There are photos there. It might be the same thing you're talking about.

[e-man]

Originally Posted by khubli

hey e-man, check out the link above. There are photos there. It might be the same thing you're talking about.

I looked at the pic, but mine didn't form while smoking the cigar...only when the ash was hit with the jet lighter. The ash literally melted and formed spheres. From all previous experience, the ash has never melted when hit with the torch. Also, there were no blemishes on the wrapper, as seen in the pic. Being a metal salt, it makes sense that high concentrations of magnesium fertilizer would melt together.

[JCK]

Very interesting.. I've heard discussions indicating black/grayish ash is a result of an incomplete tobacco burn, while white ash is a complete burn.

Regardless, it seems if you take a torch to the ash that the burn should become complete unless there's some material in the tobacco with a melting point less than the torch.

I would think the only thing left behind would be carbon of some form... in the shape of spheres?

[e-man]

Originally Posted by khubli

Very interesting.. I've heard discussions indicating black/grayish ash is a result of an incomplete tobacco burn, while white ash is a complete burn.

Regardless, it seems if you take a torch to the ash that the burn should become complete unless there's some material in the tobacco with a melting point less than the torch.

I would think the only thing left behind would be carbon of some form... in the shape of spheres?

You will only by left with pure carbon if you burn a a temperature high enough to burn all of the material. Since cigar ash is rarely black as night, I can only assume that there is a lot more than just carbon left over. I suspect that Magnesium salts burn at a higher temperature than your cigar.

Does anyone have an Ashton Maduro on hand, who is willing to smoke it in the name of science and see if they can replicate this odd behavior?

[scottw]

i have heard about the magnesium as well and have noticed this occurence in cigars with a particularly "toothy" wrapper.